Flare igniter



United States Patent [52] [Sli [50] Inventors Appl. No.

Filed Patented Assignee Joseph Albert Raymond Denis,

St. Philippe dArgenteuil, Quebec;

Jack R. Partridge, Brownsburg, Quebec, Canada June l0, 1968 Sept. 29, 1970 Canadian Industries Limited Montreal, Quebec, Canada a corporation of Canada FLARE IGNITER 3 Claims, 5 Drawing Figs.

l02/37.8 C06d l/ 10 Field ofsearch 1oz/37,52, 37.8

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 960,094 5/1910 Jackson 3,064,576 1l/l962 Lytle 3,399,621 9/1968 Schillreff Primary Examiner-Robert F. Stahl Atloruey-Bernard F. Roussin [lll 3,530,795

l02/37.8X l02/37.8 lOl/37.8

ABSTRACT: The invention pertains to a pyrotechnic flare and more particularly to the structure of a thermoplastic end protective cover for the ignited end o the flare. The cover is generally tubular and on one end is adapted to slide on the.

flare and has a gripping structure on the internal surface to secure it to the flare. The other end of the cover has a striking surface to ignite the flare and a cover for the striking surface.

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INVENTORS jomph Mksm? Raymond DENIS .Buck Ronald PRTRIDGE FLARE IGNITER This invention relates to flares and fusees and, in particular, to an improved flare o r fusee igniter attachment.

There is disclosed in Canadian Pat. No. 721,024 granted to Canadian Industries Limited on 9th Nov. i965 a flare having an igniter and match-head composition protector attachment consisting of a resilient thermoplastic tubular body adopted to slidably fit in surrounding relationship over the open end of a tubular paper container of compressed pyrotechnic composition. The thermoplastic protective attachment is further characterized by having an end portion with a striker composition coated thereon and a second, cap-like, flanged, thermoplastic body fitted in enclosing relationship over the striker material-coated end portion ofthe protective attachment.

lt has been found that the flare igniter and match-head composition protector of Canadian Pat. No. 721,024 possesses inherent disadvantages which, by virtue of its specific configuration, results in some loss of utility and some increase in hazard especially during transportation and storage. It has been found, for example, that upon storage wher-e a cycling may occur through periods of varying temperature and humidity that contact between the slidable protector and the tubular container may become slack with the resultant possibility that the protector may be loosened and detach from the container thereby exposing the match-head composition to possible ignition. Additionally, it has been found that the cap-like, flanged end protector of the protective attachment tends to become disengaged from the protective attachment especially during transportation and the vibrations caused thereby. It has also been noted that under some conditions of storage in which the tubular paper container expands, removal by hand of the protective attachment is difficult because of its smooth external surface. A further disadvantage of the known protector has been found to exist in its frequent inability to provide a moisture and water-resistant seal at its area of contact with the tubular container. Looseness resulting from any stretching of the slidable protector or shrinkage of the tubular container permits the ingress of moisture and water to the area of the match-head composition. Yet another disadvantage noted has been a failure of the striker material to adequately adhere to the end portion of the protective attachment.

It has now been found that all of the aforementioned disadvantages may be overcome by providing in accordance with this invention, an improved flare igniter and match-head composition protector attachment which comprises essentially, in combination, a resilient thermoplastic tubular body closed at one end and adapted to fit in slidable surrounding relationship over the open end of a tubular container of compressed pyrotechnic composition having a match-head primer located at the surface thereof, the said thermoplastic tubular body having at least one circumferential raised ring of ther moplastic material on the internal wall thereof and integral therewith and the said thermoplastic tubular body also having at least one longitudinal raised strip of thermoplastic material on the internal wall thereof and integral therewith, said tubular body having hand grip facilitating means on the external cylindrical wall surface thereof, the outer closed end of said thermoplastic tubular body having an inversely truncated raised central section of diameter smaller than the diameter of said thermoplastic body, said raised section having a roughened surface adapted to retain thereon in firm adhering relationship a coating of a striker material, the said tubular body having an area of reduced diameter at the point of intersection with said truncated raised central section, and a second resilient thermoplastic body of shallow, cap like construction adapted to fit in tight enclosing relationship over the striker material-coated raised section of said tubular body.

The improved flare igniter and protector attachment of the invention will be better understood by reference to the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIG. I is a longitudinal perspective view of a flare with the igniter and protector attachment fully assembled thereon;

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the flare taken in the direction oflines 2-2 of FIG. I;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged longitudinal upper sectional view of the flare taken in the direction of the lines 3-3 of FIG. l;

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view taken along the lines 4-4 of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a method of igniting the flare of FIG. l.

Referring in detail to the drawings there is shown a hollow cylindrical body I of, for example, convolutely wound paper closed at its bottom end, by means of a wooden plug or other suitable closure 2. Compressively packed into cylindrical body l is a pyrotechnic composition 3 [having at its upper face an inset match-head primer 4. Slidably fitting in firm surrounding relationship over the open upper end of cylindrical body l is resilient thermoplastic tubular body `5 of, for example, polyethylene. Tubular body 5 comprises at its closed end an inversely truncated raised central section 6 having a roughened face area 7 having a coating thereon of a matchhead striker material. The tubular body 5 also comprises raised thermoplastic ring sections i8 and 9 which sections follow the internal circumference of body 5 and are integral therewith. Additionally, tubular body S comprises internal, integral, longitudinal, raised thermoplastic strips l0 and 1l which extend from rings 8 and 9 and terminate close to the closed end of body 5. Hand grip facilitating means, shown in the form of raised, longitudinal thermoplastic strips 12, are integral with the exterior wall of body 5. An area of indentation in body 5 shown at numeral 13 is provided on the exterior of body 5 close to the closed end thereof. Protective shallow cap I4 of, for example, polyethylene, is resiliently held in firm surrounding relationship over raised central section 6 and its covering match-head striker material. Cap I4 has an indentedly tapered central section l5 adapted to fit in snap-on fashion over raised central section 6 of body 5.

Circumferential internal rings 8 and 9 on tubular body 5 are adapted to provide a tight, moisture-proof point of contact with cylindrical body l. Longitudinal internal strips 10 and ll are adapted to provide contact at all times with cylindrical body l and thereby resist the tendency of tubular body 5 becoming loose in the event of stretching and subsequent expansion of the tubular body after periods of varying temperature. Raised strips 12 are adapted to provide gripping means for the removal by hand of body 5 from body l. Indented area I3 is adapted to provide a means whereby cap I4 may be removed from raised section 6 through an upward thrust of a thumb or finger. The gripping means, for example, one raised strip l2, may be eliminated in the indented area 13 in order to facilitate the location of area I3 when in dark locations.

ln use in the field, cylindrical body l of the flare may be grasped' with either hand and with the thumb or finger of the other hand an upward pressure is exerted against cap 14 at indented area 13 causing the cap to fall away and expose the striker material on the roughened face of raised section 6. Tubular body 5 may then be grasped and, with a twisting or turning and upward motion, removed from the end of cylindrical body I to expose match-head primer 4. Tubular body 5 may then be inverted and striker material-coated section 6 struck sharply against exposed match-head primer 4 thereby igniting it. The burning primer in turn ignites pyrotechnic composition The flare igniter attachment of the invention may be made from any' suitable thermoplastic material including rubber. Polyethylene of a density of about 0.92 has been found particularly suitable. Other suitable materials will be obvious to those skilled in the art. Materials subject to undue loss of resiliency in either warm or cold temperatures should be avoided and, in the interest of economy, materials which may be easily fabricated by simple molding or casting methods are preferred.

It will be understood that the flare igniter attachment of the invention is not limited to the form illustrated in the drawings. A number of variations are possible and are still within the scope of the invention so long as the tubular body comprises hand grip facilitating means and internal, integral wall projections to provide rm yet slidable contact with the outer wall of the tubular container of pyrotechnic material. Further, an internal` integral wall projection in the form of one or more circumferential rings or ridges is an essential element of the improved igniter attachment of the invention. Additionally, the tubular body essentially requires an indented area adjacent the truncated raised section thereof to facilitate the removal of the cap-like striker material protector.

We claim:

1. ln a flare, in combination with an open tubular container of compressed pyrotechnic composition having a match-head primer located at the surface thereof, an improved igniter and match-head composition protector attachment comprising essentially in combination, a resilient thermoplastic tubular body closed at one end and adapted to fit in slidable surrounding relationship over the open end of said tubular container, the said thermoplastic body having at least one integral circumferential raised ring of thermoplastic material on the internal wall thereof, and also having at least one integral longtudinal raised strip of thermoplastic material on said internal wall, said tubular body having hand grip facilitating means on the external cylindrical wall surface thereof, the outer closed end of said tubular body having an inversely truncated raised central section of diameter smaller than the diameter of said body, said raised section having a roughened surface adapted to retain thereon in adhering relationship a coating of striker material, the said tubular body having an area of reduced diameter at the point of intersection with said truncated raised central section, and a second resilient thermoplastic body of shallow, cap-like construction adapted to fit in tight enclosing relationship over the coated raised section of said tubular body.

2. An attachment as claimed in claim l wherein the hand grip facilitating means comprise integral longitudinal raised strips of thermoplastic material.

3. An attachment as claimed polyethylene.

in claim l made of 

